Boston's First Night is nation's largest, oldest

BOSTON -- You won't find the best New Year's party in Boston in a trendy bar or swank hotel. You'll find it everywhere around you, in the "First Night" arts festival that draws a million visitors each year to the city's streets, churches and public buildings.

This arts-adoring city invented the "First Night" New Year's Eve festival 28 years ago, and the idea has since been emulated around the country. This year there will be more than 100 local First Night celebrations in 29 states.

But Boston remains home to the biggest First Night. This year's festival will feature 1,000 artists and 250 exhibitions in 40 different locations, some indoors and some out, despite the usually frigid weather. Highlights include a parade and fireworks.

If you can't find something you like here, you won't find it anywhere.

There are musicians (classical, folk, bluegrass, gospel and rock). There are dancers (ballet, tango, Irish, Chinese and swing). There are storytellers and sculptors, puppets and painters, films and fish (at the New England Aquarium), not to mention choirs, cartoons and comics.

What you won't find is boozy raucousness.

"It's a family-friendly event," said Joyce Linehan, a spokeswoman for the event. "The programming in the afternoon is specifically geared towards children. Towards night time, it's more for the whole family."

Some of the artists have been performing here every year since First Night Boston began in 1976, when it drew no more than 10,000 people.

"From the very first, this gathering, this parade, I've always felt this is the most wonderful thing, and every year it gets bigger and bigger," said Brother Blue, a storyteller who has participated in every First Night Boston.

Events start early in the afternoon at locations around the city, though many of them are concentrated in and around the Hynes Convention Center. A $15 button gains admission to anything you want to see.

But seeing everything is impossible. Linehan strongly recommends a visit to the Web site, www.firstnight.org, which contains an interactive planner organized by themes (classical music, for instance, or events appropriate for toddlers).

"If you don't have a plan you'll probably get shut out of things," she said. "Everything is first come, first serve, so you should definitely have a backup plan."

Linehan also advises dressing so that you'll be comfortable whether you are at an indoor concert, an outdoor parade or ice-sculpting. Use layers that can easily be added or removed.

And try to use public transportation, since parking is difficult and expensive and some streets will be closed off. The subway system, run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and called the "T" by locals, is convenient and easy to use, with lines coded by color. The trains usually shut down around 12:45 a.m., but they will keep running until around 2 a.m. on New Year's.